Community Corner
The importance community service plays in the scholarship selection process CANNOT be over-emphasized! An applicant can have the highest grade point average, or ” GPA,” but if the scholarship donor(s) does not see evidence that the applicant has learned the value and lesson in “giving back,” they may be substantially less inclined to bestow an award to that particular applicant. It is absolutely imperative that prospective scholarship applicants demonstrate active commitment to their community as illustrated by their participation in community service projects and activities. (For more information on the importance of community service in your scholarship search, see our article “Community Service: Just How Important is it When it Comes to Obtaining Scholarships?“)
Here are just a few of the volunteering opportunities in your state!
ALABAMA
Volunteering in America – Alabama
University of Alabama Community Service Center
University of South Alabama Children’s & Women’s Hospital
ALASKA
Alaska Volunteers to Help Homeless Families
ARIZONA
The United Way Volunteer Center – Tucson & Southern Arizona
Arizona Game & Fish Department
Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services
ARKANSAS
Arkansas Children’s Hospital Junior Volunteer Program
Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System
CALIFORNIA
City of Roseville, California Volunteer Center
Orange County,California Volunteer Opportunities
Alzheimer’s Association Orange County
Girls Incorporated of Orange County
California Academy of Sciences
COLORADO
Volunteers of America Colorado
Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center
Emergency Family Assistance Association
Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado
CONNECTICUT
Danbury Animal Welfare Society
Yale University President’s Public Service Fellowship
DELAWARE
Delaware Online Getting Involved
Christiana Cares Health System Volunteers
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Delaware
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
The Homeless Children’s Playtime Project
Washington D.C. Jewish Community Center
FLORIDA
Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
GEORGIA
Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens
Humane Society of Northeast Georgia
Saint Mary’s Health Care System
Volunteer Houston County Georgia
HAWAII
Volunteer Legal Services Hawai’i
IDAHO
Idaho Department of Fish and Game
ILLINOIS
Greater Chicago Food Depository
INDIANA
Humane Society of Indianapolis
Humane Society of Indianapolis
IOWA
United Way of East Central Iowa
KANSAS
Youth Volunteer Corps of Greater Kansas City
St. Vincent’s Family Service Center “Operation Breakthrough”
Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
KENTUCKY
Kentucky Commission on Community Volunteerism and Service
City of Bowling Green, Kentucky Official Municipal Website of Bowling Green, Kentucky
Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning
Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal
LOUISIANA
United Way of Greater Lafayette
Volunteers of America Greater Baton Rouge
Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Baton Rouge
Nature Conservancy of Louisiana
MAINE
MARYLAND
Allegany College of Maryland Volunteer Center
Anne Arundel County Volunteer Center
Chesapeake College – Chesapeake Volunteer Center
Department of Community Services
The Volunteer Center Serving Howard County
Montgomery County Volunteer Center
United Way of Washington County, Maryland
Prince George’s Department of Parks and Recreation
The Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program
MASSACHUSETTS
Literacy Volunteers of Massachusetts
United Way of Central Massachusetts
MICHIGAN
American Red Cross – Michigan Region
Kalamazoo County Association of Retired School Personnel
University of Michigan Health System
Volunteers of American Michigan
MINNESOTA
Volunteers of America Minnesota and Wisconsin
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota
MISSISSIPPI
Mississippi State University Maroon Volunteer Center
American Red Cross of Mississippi
Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast
United Way of Southeast Mississippi
MISSOURI
United Way of Wyandotte County
MONTANA
United Way of Yellowstone County
Western Montana Volunteer Center
NEBRASKA
Children’s Hospital & Medical Center
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands
NEVADA
City of Henderson Cultural Arts and Tourism
Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth
American Red Cross Northern Nevada
NEW HAMPSHIRE
NEW JERSEY
Governor’s Office on Volunteerism
The Volunteer Center of Bergen County
http://www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/volunteers.htm
NEW MEXICO
New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoors
Museum of Indian Arts and Culture
Ronald McDonald House Charities of New Mexico
University of New Mexico School of Mexico Department of Pediatrics
Museum of Indian Arts & Culture
New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest
NEW YORK
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York
NORTH CAROLINA
North Carolina Association of Volunteer Administration
Special Olympics North Carolina
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Charlotte
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
NORTH DAKOTA
City of Fargo- Fargo Public Library
North Dakota Game and Fish Department
YMCA of Cass and Clay Counties
OHIO
Furniture Bank of Central Ohio
Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland
OKLAHOMA
Central Oklahoma Humane Society
United Way of Central Oklahoma
Tulsa Historical Society & Museum
Coffee Creek Therapeutic Riding Center
Gaylord-Pickens Oklahoma Heritage Museum
OREGON
The Multnomah Youth Commission
Girls Incorporated® of the Pacific Northwest
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
PENNSLYVANIA
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Carnegie Museums of Natural History
Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Teen Volunteer Program
RHODE ISLAND
Nature Conservatory-Rhode Island
SOUTH CAROLINA
SOUTH DAKOTA
Volunteers of America – Dakotas
Habitat for Humanity – South Dakota
Sioux Falls Area Humane Society
TENNESSEE
United Way of Greater Chattanooga
TEXAS
University ot Texas-Arlington Center for Community Service
American Red Cross Greater Houston
UTAH
American Red Cross Utah Region
VERMONT
United Way of Chittenden County
ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center
VIRGINIA
Office on Volunteerism and Community Service
Arlington County Department of Human Services
WASHINGTON
Volunteer Centers of Washington
WEST VIRGINIA
YMCA of Southern West Virginia
WISCONSIN
Volunteer Center of East Central Wisconsin
WYOMING
*Interested students should thoroughly research any volunteer projects (with a responsible adult, as necessary and appropriate) prior to signing up for any volunteer opportunity.*